There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. There are those—how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind. (Proverbs 30:11-14)

There Is A Generation

Agur is not a well-known Bible character. He was the son of Jakeh and his writings are found in the book of Proverbs. He declares to Ithiel and Ucal that he is not a very smart man but he wants to write some words that are on his heart. His humble spirit is evident when he considers how great the Lord has manifested Himself. The word of God is pure and Agur knows the power contained in the wisdom of the Lord. He did not want much in life so that he could live simply before the Lord and serve Him. His observation of the youth of his day is startling but familiar. Children curse their fathers and mothers and live in the “me, me, me” world of selfishness. The world revolves around their every desire and with the expectation of getting anything they want, like wolves they devour those who stand against them. His generation turned away from the Lord living for their own needs to be fulfilled in fleshly pleasure. Sound familiar?

The amazing part of history is how often generations repeat themselves. There is a misguided notion that each generation improves on the last and with more technology and wisdom man gets smarter. Sadly that is not the way of men. Agur wrote his proverbs nearly three thousand years ago but his observations can be put in many generations including the present. More and more the family is becoming a dysfunctional haven of spoiled children who disrespect parents, believe the world owes them everything and rush through life drinking every drop of self-gratification and pleasure they can find. The Holy Spirit kept the writings of Agur for a reason. It shows how that man needs God and every generation fights the same battles; just a different kind under different circumstances.

Finding the views of Agur familiar with the problems faced today, the solution remains the same. The great message of the ancient writings of the Old Testament is the power of the word of God for all men in every generation. Families faced a crisis of identity in the days of Agur and they face the same problems today. The only way to resolve the issues of the family is to allow the Lord to guide the home, train the children and build a better community. Men change little and the word of God never changes. The family was created as a place of safety, peace and where the Lord was to be the central hope. Sin destroys that harmony. What Agur wrote about can be laid at the feet of parents who fail to bring their children up in the training and admonition of the Lord. The reason children become rebellious is because they are allowed to be rebellious. There are exceptions to the rule of children who leave the wisdom of the parents because they are free to make moral decisions that are sinful. By and large many homes are filled with cursing, selfish children because parents have spoiled, coddled, pampered and created the storm they witness in their family. Teaching children to love, respect and honor the Lord will instill in them a love for family. Parents are heard to say they want to give their children all the things they never had growing up and failing to give them the one thing they were given – a love for the Lord. The words of Agur still ring loudly in our generation. There is a need for families to build their homes upon the word of God. If the Bible is not the center of the home, the framework of the family will be destroyed. Listen to the words of Agur. Do not allow this generation to repeat the mistakes of the past.